Valve operating device



Aug. 14, 1934. E, A. RYDER VALVE OPERATING DEVICE Filed Oct. 15, 1930 H H M T T n Patented Aug. 14, 1934 UNET STATES PATENT VALVE OPERATING DEVICE East Hartford, Conn,

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a corporation of Dela- Application October 15, 1930, Serial No. 488,334

7 Claims. (Cl. 123-90) This invention relates to valve operating mechanism and particularly to connections between parts thereof where a considerable angle exists between the axes of the tappet and the valve operating rod.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved operating connection beween a valve operating tappet and its valve operating rod to facilitate operation of the rod even when disposed at an extreme oblique angle to the axis of the tappet.

A feature which enables me to accomplish the above named object is that the upper surface of the tappet is preferably beveled and the valve operating rod may have a plunger at its end adjacent or engaging the end face of the tappet.

Another object of the invention is to form the end surface of the valve operating rod, or the end surface of the plunger attached thereto, flat and normal to the axis of the rod.

Another feature which is advantageous is that a roller, such as a cylinder or sphere, may be interposed between the adjacent ends of the tappet and rod so that the roller will contact with the end of the tappet and the end of a plunger associated with the valve operating rod.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention includes the features of construction and operation set forth in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the accompanying drawing annexed hereto and forming a part of this specification, I have shown my invention embodied in a tappet construction particularly designed for aircraft engines of the radial type but it will be understood that the invention can be otherwise embodied and that the drawing is not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims appended to this specificaticn being relied upon for that purpose.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a valve operating tappet and a portion of its rod,

' together with parts of an engine adjacent thereto.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of a tappet and valve operating rod having a slightly different form of roller interposed between their adjacent ends.

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the upper end of the tappet and the roller shown in Fig. 2

Fig. 4 shows the embodiment of the invention indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, the tappet and rod being shown in two operative positions, and,

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showng the tappet and the plunger for the valve operating rod directly in contact.

In the above mentioned drawing I have shown several embodiments of the invention which are 71 now deemed preferable but it is to be understood that changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the operation of internal combustion en- 2' i gines a tappet is usually employed generally slidably mounted within a suitable support and adapted at one end to engage a cam so that rotation of the cam will move the tappet axially. Between the tappet and the valve (not shown) is a reach or connecting rod, one end of which is operatively connected to the tappet. In certain types of engines, as for instance in the engine fragmentarily shown in Fig. 1, there is a material angle between the axis of the tappet and that of the valve operating rod. To hingedly connect the tappet and rod would cause unusual strains induced by lateral movements of the valve operating rod, which, at the extremely high speeds used, is undesirable. The general 86) purpose, therefore, of the present invention is to provide an operative connection between a tappet and its valve operating rod which will permit substantially axial movement of the rod by axial movement of the tappet even when the rod and tappet are disposed materially oblique to each other., To facilitate this movement of the rod by the tappet and to eliminate friction as much as possible, a roller preferably may be interposed between adjacent ends of the tappet and rod.

Referring more in detail to the figures of the drawing, I provide an engine frame 10 with tappet supports 11 shown in the form of a tubular member which may be secured directly to a portion of the frame. Adapted to slidably move within a support 11 is a tappet 12 having a roller 13 at its lower end, the periphery of which contacts with a rotating valve actuating cam 14. As the means for supporting and rotating the cam 14 'form no part of the present invention, it is not thought that further description will be necessary. As will be seen in Fig. 1, the tappet 12 is at a material distance from the cylinder 15 shown fragmentarily so that the valve operating rod 16 stands at a considerable angle relative to the axis of the tappet 12. This valve operating rod 16 at the end adjacent the tappet 12 may be provided with a short cylindrical member or plunger 17 having a ball and socket or other flexible engagement with the rod 16. This cylinder 1'? may be slidq m atable within an oblique extension of the tubular support 11 for the tappet 12.

Referring first to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, it will be seen that the end surface of the tappet 12 is beveled to a plane normal to the axis of its valve operating rod 16. The surface of the cylinder 17 connected to the connecting rod 16 has its end face parallel to this beveled surface, as is evident from an inspection of Fig. 1. Interposed between the adjacent surfaces of the tappet 12 and cylinder 17 on the rod 16 is a sphere 18, this sphere being of material size and housed within the support 11 for the tappet 12 and rod 16. The diameter of the sphere 18 is so chosen that the maximum axial movement of the tappet 12 will cause rolling movement of the sphere 18 substantially from one side of the support 11 to the other, thus maintaining its contact with the tappet l2 and cylinder 1''] relatively close to the central portions of these members. The tappet may be maintained against rotation so that the roller 13 will always engage its cam 14 properly and the beveled end of the tappet be properly positioned by any usual means (not shown).

Referring to the modification of the invention shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, it will be seen that in place of the sphere 18 a cylindrical roller 19 has been introduced, this roller 19 having a diameter substantially equivalent to that of the sphere so that it will contact with the central portion of the tappet and rod. In order to cause rolling of this member in the proper direction, the tappet 20 is provided with a groove 21 extending across its beveled face within which the roller 19 may easily roll. By reference to Fig. 4 of the drawing, the positions of this roller 19 in the two extreme positions of the tappet 20 are indicated, upward movement of the tappet causing rolling movement of the member 19 upon its periphery, the axis moving slightly toward the left as seen in Fig. 4 during upward movement of the tappet 20. At all times, however, the contact between the roller 19 and the tappet 20 and between the roller 19 and the cylinder 17 on the valve operating rod 16 is maintained as close to the central portion or axis of these members as possible.

In Fig. 5 is shown an embodiment of the invention in which no anti-friction member is inter posed between the tappet 12 and cylinder 17, the cylinder 17 contacting directly with the beveled face of the tappet 12. Upward movement of the tappet 12 therefore will cause sliding movement of the contacting surfaces of the tappet 12 and cylinder 1'7.

In each of the embodiments of the invention the end of the valve operating rod 16 is provided with a plunger or cylinder 1'7 the end face of which is normal to the axis of the rod. Preferably a ball and socket joint of conventional form is interposed between the end of the rod 16 and the plunger 17 to permit slight oscillation between these members.

What I claim is:

1. A valve operating device for engines comprising in combination, a tappet, a. cylinder within which said tappet operates, a valve operating rod adapted to be actuated by said tappet, a memberfiexibly secured to the end of said rod adjacent said tappet and slidable within a cylinder disposed obliquely to and joining the first cylinder, the end face of this member being parallel to the end face of the tappet and normal to the axis of the rod and a roller within said cylinders contacting with the adjacent ends of said tappet and member and adapted to roll laterally during operation of said tappet and rod.

2. A valve operating device for engines comprising in combination, a tappet slidably mounted within a support, a valve operating rod disposed obliquely to said tappet and actuated thereby, and a support for the rod adjacent said tappet within which said rod is slidable, the end surface of one of said slidable members being beveled to a plane normal to the axis of the other slidable member.

3. A valve operating device for engines comprising in combination, a tappet slidably mounted within a support, a valve operating rod disposed obliquely to said tappet and operated thereby, a

support for the end of the rod adjacent said tappet within which said rod is slidable, the end surface of one of said slidable members being beveled to a plane normal to the axis of the other slidable member, and an anti-friction member interposed between said tappet and rod.

4. A valve operating device for engines comprising in combination, a tappet, a valve operating rod adapted to be actuated thereby, at an oblique angle thereto, the adjacent ends of said tappet and rod being parallel to each other and normal to the axis of one of said members, supports for the adjacent ends of said tappet and rod and within which said tappet and rod are slidable, and an anti-friction member interposed for rolling movement between adjacent parallel surfaces of said tappet and rod within said support.

5..A valve operating device for engines comprising in combination, a tappet, a valve operating rod adapted to be actuated thereby at an oblique angle thereto, a support for the adjacent ends of said tappet and rod and within which 1.1

said tappet and rod are slidable, the end face of said tappet being bevelled to a plane normal to the axis of the valve operating rod, one of said slidable members having a transverse groove in its end face, and a roller disposed within said groove contacting with the end of the other slidable member.

6. A valve operating device for engines comprising in combination, a tappet, a valveoperating rod adapted to be actuated thereby at an 1;

oblique angle thereto, a support for the adjacent ends of said tappet'and rod Within which said tappet and a member connected to said rod are slidable, one of said slidable members being beveled upon its end face to a plane normal to the axis of the other member and having a transverse groove therein, and a roller disposed partially within said groove and contacting with the adjacent face of the other slidable member.

7. A valve operating device for engines comprising in combination, a tappet, a valve operating rod actuated thereby at an oblique angle thereto, interconnecting supports for the adjacent ends of said tappet and rod, a member flexibly connected to said rod and slidable within said support, said member and said tappet having their end faces disposed in planes normal to the axis of one of the members, and an anti-friction member within said support and between said faces.

- EARLE A. RYDER.

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